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‘Arch of Triumph’ Honors MBC Alumna

March 13, 2012

Mary Baldwin College President Pamela Fox joined more than 40,000 revelers in Dallas to dedicate and celebrate the opening of a stunning new bridge named in memory of businesswoman, philanthropist, and MBC alumna Margaret Hunt Hill ’37.

The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is a striking, 400-foot white arch designed by internationally renowned Spanish artist, architect, and engineer Santiago Calatrava. Already an icon of the city skyline, the cable-stayed bridge dubbed the “arch of triumph” in the local press , spans the Trinity River, connecting West Dallas to downtown and points beyond.

In addition to the official dedication ceremony, the weekend-long bash held March 2–4 also included a street fair; foot race; parade; musical performances, including a concert with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band; and fireworks displays.

“It was an honor to be present for the dedication of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, a breathtaking structure, and to see the pride and joy on the faces of Margaret’s family,” Fox said. “Her dedication, leadership, and tireless effort on behalf of her community exemplify all that we desire for each and every Mary Baldwin student and graduate.”

Hill, who passed away in 2007, supported critical projects and academic initiatives at her alma mater for decades. She and her sister, Caroline Rose Hunt ’43, made possible the renovation of Hill Top Residence Hall and provided the funding and vision for the construction of one of the college’s landmark buildings, Lyda B. Hunt Dining Hall, named in memory of their mother.

The first-born daughter of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt, Hill was a civic leader in Dallas. According to organizers of the bridge event, the Hunt Petroleum Company of Dallas made a generous contribution to the Trinity Trust Foundation in 2005 to fund what would eventually become the first vehicular Calatrava bridge to be built in the United States. Grateful for her years of service to the community, Dallas officials agreed to name the bridge after Margaret Hunt Hill.